THE THIEVING MAGPIE - LA GAZZA LADRA

Quite possibly one of the greatest live albums available. After the masterpiece Clutching at Straws, Marillion hit the road for another tour. The performances on this album are nothing short of spectacular, each musician playing at the peak of their career with Fish. The weeping guitar of Rothery, the precision drumming of Mosely, the thumping power of Trewavas' bass, the textured keyboards of Kelly, and the emotional showcase of Fish, they all add up to create a stellar live show. Showcased on this album is a collection of some of their best tracks from all of their studio albums up to that point (minus Market Square Heroes), also included is Misplaced Childhood in its entirety.

Opening with the classical piece La Gazza Ladra and then going straight into Slainte Mhath, the band plays calm and collected. All the tracks are played almost exactly the same as their studio counterparts, but they are much more emotional and Fish takes them to the next level. From the varied synths of Fugazi to the outro of Incommunicado, one cannot be anything less than captivated by Fish's presence on the recordings. The second disc, containing Misplaced Childhood in its entirety, is very much similar to the bootleg Selling Fish By the Pound 3. The album sounds almost exactly the same live as it does on the studio, but it again has much more feel and emotion this time around.

Overall, if you are a fan of Marillion, I recommend a purchase of this album immediately. You will not be disappointed. 4.5/5.